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National Laboratory Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Beamline Scientist

Upton, NY · On-site

$104K - $163K/yr

Position Description Brookhaven National Laboratory is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Beamline Scientist to join the ISS beamline at NSLS-II. The ISS beamline combines a powerful damping ...

Beamline Scientist

Upton, NY · On-site

$104K - $163K/yr

Position Description Brookhaven National Laboratory is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Beamline Scientist to join the ISS beamline at NSLS-II. The ISS beamline combines a powerful damping ...

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How much do national laboratory jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for national laboratory in the United States is $22.53, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.27 and $24.28 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a National Laboratory?

A National Laboratory is a government-funded research facility dedicated to scientific and technological research in areas crucial to national interests, such as energy, security, and the environment. In the United States, National Laboratories are primarily managed by the Department of Energy and are staffed by scientists, engineers, and other professionals. These labs conduct advanced research, develop new technologies, and support public and private sector innovation. They often collaborate with universities, industry, and other government agencies to address complex scientific challenges.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive at a National Laboratory, and why are they important?

To thrive at a National Laboratory, you generally need advanced education in a STEM field, strong research skills, and relevant laboratory experience. Familiarity with specialized laboratory equipment, data analysis software, and adherence to safety protocols is typically required, along with certifications depending on the research area. Critical thinking, collaboration, and effective communication are essential soft skills for excelling in multidisciplinary teams and sharing complex findings. These skills ensure high-quality research, innovation, and compliance with rigorous scientific and safety standards.

What are some common challenges faced when working at a national laboratory, and how can new employees overcome them?

Working at a national laboratory often involves navigating complex, multidisciplinary projects and collaborating with experts from various scientific and technical backgrounds. New employees may initially find the scale and pace of research, as well as the regulatory and safety requirements, to be challenging. To overcome these hurdles, it’s helpful to proactively seek mentorship, participate in team meetings, and take advantage of training resources provided by the lab. Building strong communication skills and a willingness to learn from colleagues can also greatly ease the transition and contribute to success in this environment.
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Infographic showing various National Laboratory job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 2% As Needed, 77% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $46,864 per year, or $22.5 per hour.
Cryo-EM Scientist

$103K - $138K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago


Job description

The national cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) center, the Laboratory for BioMolecular Structure (LBMS) at Brookhaven National Laboratory, provides sample preparation, screening, and high-resolution data collection for both single-particle cryo-EM and cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) studies.

The facility currently hosts one high-end Krios microscope, one Talos 120C and one JEM 2100 screening electron microscopes, an Aquilos2 cryo-focused-ion beam scanning electron microscope (cryo-FIB-SEM), an EM ICE high-pressure freezer, and cryo-grids preparation equipment.

Position Description

The LBMS is seeking an experienced scientist to join our team and support our efforts in operation and improvement of LBMS cryo-EM capabilities. The cryo-EM scientist will help users obtain high-quality Cryo-EM data, lead cryo-EM efforts on collaboration projects, participate in LBMS 3-tier training program, and develop/implement new methods.

The successful candidate will have a strong background in biology, and experience with cryo-EM techniques.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Operate and maintain cryo-EMs and related equipment, including sample preparation and image acquisition.

  • Train, support and educate users and the public through the 3-tier training program.

  • Collaborate with users to design and optimize experiments; provide guidance on sample preparation, data collection, and analysis.

  • Communicate with academic and industrial user communities and provide support.

  • Contribute to method development in cryo-EM and support overall LBMS operations.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • PhD in a relevant field (e.g., biology, biochemistry, biophysics, chemistry, microbiology, virology) with 2 years postdoctoral experience.

  • Effective and constructive communicator.

  • Ability to work both independently as a self-starter and as a proactive team player.

  • Ability to maintain a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, to support continuous facility operations and user needs.

  • Strong organizational and record-keeping skills.

  • Experience in at least one of the following: cryo-EM instrumentation, sample preparation, high-resolution single particle data collection, or cryo-electron tomography.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience in one or more of the following:

  • Single-particle image processing using CryoSPARC, Relion, cisTEM, EMAN2, or similar software.

  • Tomography image processing using IMOD, AreTomo, EMAN2, or related packages.

  • Cryogenic sample preparation using cryo-FIB or cryo-microtome.

  • Fluorescence light microscopy for correlative or complementary studies.

  • Experience in working in a Linux/UNIX environment.

  • Strong record of peer-reviewed publications.

Other Information:

  • Candidates should submit a CV/resume, a cover letter and contact information for three references.

  • Brookhaven Laboratory is committed to providing fair, equitable and competitive compensation. This is a multi-level role and the full salary range for this position is $103,000 - $138,000 / year. You will be placed at the level and salary commensurate with your experience. Salary offers will be commensurate with the final candidate's qualification, education and experience and considered with the internal peer group.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is committed to employee success and we believe that a comprehensive employee benefits program is an important and meaningful part of the compensation employees receive. Review more information at BNL | Benefits Program

Brookhaven National Laboratory requires all non-badged personnel including visitors to produce a REAL-ID or REAL-ID compliant documentation to access Brookhaven National Laboratory - view more information atwww.bnl.gov/real-id. This is due to nationwide identification requirements for federal site access as required by the federalREAL ID Act. Those not in possession of a REAL ID-compliant document will not be permitted to access the site which includes access to the Laboratory for interviews.

About Us

Brookhaven National Laboratory (www.bnl.gov) delivers discovery science and transformative technology to power and secure the nation's future. Brookhaven Lab is a multidisciplinary laboratory with seven Nobel Prize-winning discoveries, 37 R&D 100 Awards, and more than 70 years of pioneering research. The Lab is primarily supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA) operates and manages the Laboratory for DOE. BSA is a partnership between Battelle and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York on behalf of Stony Brook University. BSA salutes our veterans and active military members with careers that leverage the skills and unique experience they gained while serving our country, learn more at BNL | Opportunities for Veterans at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

Guided by our core values of integrity, responsibility, innovation, respect, and teamwork, Brookhaven Science Associates is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer-Vets/Disabled. We are committed to fostering a respectful and collaborative environment that fuels scientific discovery. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to any characteristic protected by law. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. *VEVRAA Federal Contractor

BSA employees are subject to restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation at the time of hire for review by Brookhaven. The full text of the Order may be found at:https://www.directives.doe.gov/directives-documents/400-series/0486.1-BOrder-a/@@images/file